STORY OF A PARTRIDGE.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1605, 23 November 1912, Page 15

STORY OF A PARTRIDGE.

. .. » ■■ There was an amusing little scene at the Gare du Nord recently. A Parisian who was coming back from a shoot in the oountry, and- carried a game-brig, was (stopped by an officer of the "Octroi," who put the inevitable question; "Have you anything to declare? The sportsman was not in the best of tempers, as his ample game-bag> contained but a dngle victim i —a rather • skinny partridge. This de-' cliired, the officer was sceptical. "What! Only one?" he inquired. "Look and see for yourself," said -the harassed sportsman. The officer did so, and was satisfied. "Will you kindly'■ make your declaration at the office and pay the duty?" Partridge' in hand, tho traveller .followed him. "Twopence, please," pronounced the official, casting a soornful glance at tho bedraggled bird. '"Wait a moment," objected the sportsman, who was -well up in his legal rights, and saw an excellent opportunity of getting a little of his own 'back."Wall you kindly weigh my bird?" "One pound four ounces," came a voice from the wicket. "All right; I have the right to one pound: one'ounce free of duty. Give me lack my bird for a moment." This was done, and the traveller tranquilly plucked the 'partridge beforo the .'eyes of the astonished officials, and a little crowd of curious persons who were beginning to enter into the spirit of tho joke. Once more "the wretched bird was passed over and weighed. "One pound one ' ounce," came ;the reply. "Hand it over again, then," said the sportsman, and this time he produced a pair of pocketscissors and deliberately and skilfully "cleaned" the bird. This process complete, the partridge was'found to weigh rather under a : pound, and could pass free of duty. !Its owner had saved nis twoEjnce, and .certainly had his little joke.— ondon "Doily Telegraph." ; '